Volkswagen competes in the 2006 Dakar Rally with a redeveloped Touareg. When compared to its well-proven predecessor, the suspension, engine power and visibility have been improved. It is characterised by its striking new optic. The Race Touareg 2 makes its competition debut at the Portalegre Rally from 21 and 23 October in Portugal. With this new development, Volkswagen wishes to add to its predecessor's long list of successes. Since its premiere at the 2004 ‘Dakar', the Race Touareg has won three of nine rallies entered and also clinched the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup early and presented Volkswagen with its most successful year ever in its motorsport history.
"The Race Touareg 2 is a logical development. It's a perfectly normal process in professional motorsport that the vehicles get faster and better from year to year. Two factors were dominant for us: improving both the performance and the user friendliness, and we achieved both of these targets with the Race Touareg 2”, explains Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "With the Race Touareg 2 we have improved a proven concept in all aspects. The knowledge and experience gained from two years of desert rallying have poured into the new car. Now we want to continue the success series of the predecessor with the new model.”
Visibility and handling – new key points for the design: With its basic dimensions changed, the new Race Touareg 2 makes an even more dynamic effect at first glance. "On fast handling sections such as those associated with classic sprint rallying, the Race Touareg has already demonstrated its abilities thanks to its excellent handling traits”, emphasises Technical Director Eduard Weidl. "We must improve even more on uneven and rough terrain. The visibility from the cockpit was an aspect for optimisation, the cross-country mobility another. For this purpose, the height of the driver's and co-driver's seat was retained, while the so-called crest line was lowered – the line at which the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the bodywork meet. As a consequence the centre of gravity is reduced and the visibility is improved.
The space-frame, weighing almost 300 kg, retained its basic design, and as load bearing element was lengthened at cockpit height. The occupants gain more space while the longer wheelbase improves the handling at high speed. Nevertheless, the vehicle's total length shrank by approximately 200 millimetres – so the overhangs appear much shorter. The larger gradient angles in front of the front axle and behind the rear axle improves the cross-country mobility even further”, stresses Weidl.
Chassis and suspension – proven concept further refined: The basic design of the suspension with its double-wishbone pick-up points mounted directly on the space-frame proved so successful that it was retained. "We have re-worked several suspension components but retained every mounting point”, explains Weidl. Two big advantages result from this: The concept of the diagonally interchangeable components still functions. A front right-hand suspension arm can also be used on the rear left-hand suspension, which saves manufacturing costs and the common component principle also reduces the logistics during a rally. The so-called "spool” uprights are new; the wheel bearing is supported by spoke-like struts which allow airflow around the upright. Volkswagen also explores new paths in the shock absorber field. A new partner was chosen whose dampers produced record performances first time out amongst the much feared and unyielding camel grass mounds.
The concept of the robust space-frame was retained. The team discovered in reality just how robust the aircraft steel construction already was. The very first Race-Touareg ever built, the chassis existing since October 2003 with the internal identification "RT01”, has clocked up approximately 35,000 kilometres at competition pace. As a result, the vehicle has, statistically seen, already completed seven times the official distance of a Dakar Rally.
Engine and transmission – efficiency and powerful through innovative technology The economical and powerful in-line five-cylinder TDI engine has proven itself in cross country rallying from the very beginning. The power unit was re-worked in many areas by the engine development department. Mechanical modifications including a revised dry sump lubrication system, and also the thermodynamic set-up of the turbo charging system and its regulation are new. "The focus of our work was to increase the power and torque, and also the initial response of the engine”, stresses Donatus Wichelhaus, head of engine development at Volkswagen Motorsport.
The new, two-stage charging system gives the race diesel engine better drivability. A smaller, high-pressure turbo charger produces the compression required at lower engine revs guaranteeing excellent initial response; a larger low-pressure charger generates the boost pressures at high engine revs. A load dependent exhaust valve regulates the stepped charging by continuously diverting the exhaust gas flow at engine speeds between 1,800 and 3,000 rpm, which is the transitional stage of operation of both chargers. A new Bosch engine management system completes the work carried out by the technicians. "When we asked the drivers what the biggest differences between the new and old models were, they were unanimous in confirming their order of preference: The engine characteristics, the car's handling and the visibility are the outstanding improvements”, stress Weidl und Wichelhaus.
Attention to detail – improvements to the ergonomics and user friendliness Volkswagen have again considerably improved the user friendliness of the Race Touareg 2 with which the teams are ‘on tour' for 16 days during the Dakar Rally. More cockpit space has been found thanks to the longer wheelbase. The old rear-mounted drink reservoir has been relocated in a new storage tank within the cockpit which is better insulated – an advantage on stages lasting eight or more hours. The newly designed cockpit eases operation thanks to the more favourably located and ergonomic components. When driving through villages and towns, in which maximum speeds are stipulated and where exceeding the speed limit is severely punished, the drivers can now activate a limiter mounted in the steering wheel. On top of this, a new electronic function calculates the maximum possible range based on the previous fuel consumption allowing the fuel quantity to be managed more precisely.
Many other innovations to improve operation have been implemented outside the cockpit. For the first time the voluminous rear bodywork element has a separate opening, which allows easier access to the spare wheels stored there. In the event of the almost unavoidable punctures that are common place in cross country rallying today the drivers can change wheels even faster thanks to an integrated rear boot lid.
Volkswagen competes with five driver teams in the desert classic: The five Volkswagen driver-duos will benefit from the improvements made to the Race Touareg 2 during the Dakar Rally: In addition to the long-standing Volkswagen duos of Jutta Kleinschmidt/Fabrizia Pons (D/I) and the 2005 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup winners Bruno Saby/Michel Périn (F/F), three equally competitive driver pairings were signed during the 2005 season: The South African-Swedish crew Giniel de Villiers and Tina Thörner scored a brace of second places for Volkswagen in the 2005 World Cup. The Spaniard Carlos Sainz, with 26 victories the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship's history, seeks a new challenge in his ‘Dakar' debut. He relies on the experienced two-time ‘Dakar' winner Andy Schulz as co-driver. The American Mark Miller is also new to the team; his co-driver is the German Dirk von Zitzewitz (D).
The 2006 Dakar Rally starts in Lisbon on 31 December 2005. The route wanders through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and Guinea in Senegal, where the teams are expected at the finish at Lac Rosé on 15 January. Volkswagen finished third, fifth and twelve with Kleinschmidt/Pons, Saby/Périn and Gordon/von Zitzewitz respectively at the 2005 Dakar Rally. In addition, a total of four stage victories were scored. Volkswagen drivers also held the overall lead for four days.
